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It's getting hot in here.

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So my tank is basically getting much warmer than I'd like. It's keeping around 80, sometimes reaching 82. I'd really like to keep it at 76 maybe letting it reach up to 78 occasionally, in order to keep the fish more comfortable (and reduce algae growth/evaporation?) . It's just a small 10 gallon tank so I don't really want to dish out a couple hundred dollars for a chiller. I've seen a lot of videos explaining how people mount some mini fans on the lip of the tank. However, there is one problem, I've got a lid. I'd prefer to not have the tank lid open all day because I've got a couple of dogs and there is constantly hair floating in the air and I would rather it not get all in the tank. I've seen some people talk about some computer fans, but I'm not really sure how to set these up or if this would even work with a tank lid. Any ideas guys?

Keeping a tank cool when the weather outside isn't is tough. I personally have central air which is set at 80F and this keeps my reef tank from getting too warm.
I do feel for you in this. I don't know if a 12 volt PC fan mounted into the lid would do the trick. If you are going to try this you will have to cut the canopy, mount the fan, and get a power source hooked up. In a PC the fan takes hot air out of the enclosure letting room temperature into the box through slots to keep the chips and components cooler then their running temperatures. There are also heat sinks mounted to these components to dissipate the heat. Besides adding a chiller (which your not into), theres no easy way to keep the tank temperature lower then room temperature.
Have you thought about an AC unit for yourself?

Keeping a tank cool when the weather outside isn't is tough. I personally have central air which is set at 80F and this keeps my reef tank from getting too warm.
I do feel for you in this. I don't know if a 12 volt PC fan mounted into the lid would do the trick. If you are going to try this you will have to cut the canopy, mount the fan, and get a power source hooked up. In a PC the fan takes hot air out of the enclosure letting room temperature into the box through slots to keep the chips and components cooler then their running temperatures. There are also heat sinks mounted to these components to dissipate the heat. Besides adding a chiller (which your not into), theres no easy way to keep the tank temperature lower then room temperature.
Have you thought about an AC unit for yourself?

As much as I'd love to do all this, I really have no idea how to. I'm pretty new to the whole aquarium thing. I have no idea where I'd make the cuts, how to not interfere with the lighting ( which pretty much covers the entire hood,) what to cut with. Heck, I'm worried that if I mount some computer fans inside the the hood and shut the lid, water will kick up in it and electrocute the entire tank. If you or someone else is willing to give me some step by step instructions, I'd love to attempt to do this.

I don't know where you are, but I'll assume this heat is just summer higher temperatures. The fan idea from Strider is good. Another is a room air conditioner for the window, or a portable air conditioner. I went with the latter because I have a dedicated fish room that being on the SW corner of the house can get very hot in summer, well above 90F, and the portable AC keeps it no higher than 80F which is OK for the fish (and me too).

Before I got the AC, I just let things go. While I would not want the tanks this warm permanently, summer heat is usually tolerable for the fish especially if it cools down some at night. A high of 80-82F on a temporary basis (days) should be tolerable for most fish.

Keeping the tank light off helps but if you have live plants, have the light on for at least 6 hours for them.

It hasn't been suggested here, but some will recommend floating plastic bags of ice in the tank, and this I would not do. The ice will obviously melt (in the bag) so the tank water gets cooled, then warmed, then cooled, then warmed as the ice bag is replaced during the day, and this is no better for the fish that just leaving things. As I said, previously my tanks got up to 90+ and I never lost a fish in the summers.

Byron.

Byron Hosking, BMus, MA
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Something we all need to remember: The fish you've acquired was quite happy not being owned by you, minding its own business. If you’re going to take it under your wing then you’re responsible for it. Every aspect of its life is under your control, from water quality and temperature to swimming space. [Nathan Hill in PFK]